Relay for Life remembers loved ones and raises €22k

RELAY for Life, a 24-hour walkathon in Corkagh Park, was triumphant in celebrating survivors, remembering loved ones, and standing in solidarity with those battling cancer all while raising over €22,000 in the process.

There were new connections formed and a great sense of community and poignancy as the 13 teams banded together to walk through the day and night to fundraise for the Irish Cancer Society.

Starting at 1pm on Saturday, June 3, the survivors lap started the Relay for Life Clondalkin and the teams did laps on the grass track, which was lit with candle bags commemorating loved ones.

As the sun set, a special Candle of Hope ceremony was held with candles lighting up the night, which was followed by a silent lap as pictures of passed family members were displayed on the big screen.

“It went amazing, we had 13 teams, all who stayed for the full 24 hours and we were nearly at our goal of €15,000 before the event even started so to be at €22k now is just amazing,” one of the organisers, Caroline Corcoran, tells The Echo.

“On a weekend when Bloom, Forbidden Fruit and the Mini-Marathon was on, there was a massive amount of people who went to the Relay for Life, and we had cracking weather as well.

“There was about 1,400 candle bags sold with photos of people who have passed away with cancer, it was a really big event, all the teams were brilliant and we raised a lot of awareness and money for a good cause.”

The 24-hours symbolises how cancer never sleeps, with a member from each team required to be always on the track in Corkagh Park.

Through the night, families and teams “built great relationships and raised money in honour of their loved ones”.

There was a lot of moments that stand out from across the day, with McKinley School of Dancing delivering a touching performance for team Remembering Ellie being one of many highlights.

One person clocked up 100,000 steps in the 24 hours and another team, after getting through the night, were able to tag-in a jogger, who had not been part of the event but stumbled across it on Sunday morning, for an hour – such was the togetherness.

All of the teams ran mini fundraisers from their tents, and they were kept entertained by groups on the stage.

“We do want it to be bigger next year, more teams, more awareness because statistics are now one-in-two people are being diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime,” Caroline says.

“We’ll see what happens. We’re still just trying to wrap up this year and do the final count, then we’ll have a cheque presentation as well but we’re all still on such a high after it.

“We had a dream, after I lost my mam and Paula Haverty lost her mam, in Relay for Life in Ballyfermot back in 2013, we were involved in the committee for that.

“We’ve been talking the last two-years about doing something in Clondalkin, so it’s two-years in the pipeline.

“We’re delighted with how it went, especially when you see the impact it had on so many people.

“Teams came in blind, not really knowing what to expect and they all done so well. There was such an outpouring of love, Clondalkin now got to experience that and it can become even more through that.”

Money raised is set to go directly to cancer research, volunteer drivers of cancer patients, night nurses and the operating of the Irish Cancer Society support line, which is free to call.

At the time of publishing, donations are still being accepted for Relay for Life Clondalkin at HERE.